Reviews with content warning for War - Memories of Ice

Reviews tagging 'War'

Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson

13 reviews

vivectelvanni's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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lvl52_grant's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I would gladly march to war for Dujek and Whiskeyjack, it's as simple as that.
The ending goes at a lightning pace, be sure to give it time to read all in one sitting.

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josiah17's review against another edition

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challenging dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

Well, I think it's safe to say Malazan is not for me. I actually thought I was somewhat enjoying this through the halfway point. Specifically due to the introduction of the K'Chain Che'Malle and the intrigue Silverfox presented. I also enjoyed Tool and Toc's interactions. However, that's it. And once I got into the latter half of this book, I realized I was really only pushing through this because it was a buddy read. If it weren't for buddy reading this with my friends, I would've DNF'd long ago. It was not a pleasant reading experience.

I found this to be somehow even more confusing and perplexing than the first two Malazan books. It feels like Erikson provided less context for the expanded worldbuilding and plotlines that take place here. I was lost 95% of the time. And I hate that feeling. What's the point of reading a book if it isn't comprehensible enough? Even when I try to relax and prevent myself from pushing to understand everything—per recommendation by Malazan fans—its still completely bewildering. Trying to use a wiki doesn't help enough either. And not to mention the ridiculous number of POV's in this book. I can't keep track of all the characters when Erikson jumps to at least 20 POV's throughout and doesn't revisit some for hundreds of pages. I used to try to take notes while reading these books but I gave up here because there was simply too much to try to track.

Additionally, especially regarding characters, I simply did not feel invested in anyone or anything. In my experience, I feel there's a severe lack of compelling character development in this series. I find the POV hopping to be a factor in this, not only from chapter to chapter or page to page, but from book to book. How am I expected to feel invested in characters and plotlines when jumping to different continents with each book? It's just exhausting to read something structured this way.

The only consistent factor I have found to be pleasant throughout Malazan is Erikson's prose. I think he's great with words and evokes a grim and mystical atmosphere with his writing that matches the tone and complexity of Malazan. Unfortunately, I'm not drawn in by anything else. I found Kruppe an entertaining character, and Anomander Rake is awesome. Both returning for some POV's in this book was nice. And I was excited to finally see the K'Chain Che'Malle, the sword-armed velociraptors I've heard so much about. The first scene they have in this book was awesome. However, I could not care less about anything else.

That was more of a messy rant than anything, but those are my thoughts on Memories of Ice and Malazan three books in. I enjoyed Gardens of the Moon, found Deadhouse Gates to be overwhelmingly grim and disappointing, and Memories of Ice dropped the ball even more. I do not expect to continue this series. On one hand I'm disappointed by that because I'd love to see what everyone else loves about this series, but I'm also happy to move on to books I'm actually looking forward to reading.

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eleso's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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benehime's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Reader, I cried.

This book hit me harder than the first two (though the second one was pretty awful too). In this book we delved deeper into the tragedy of the T'lan Imass and the Tiste Andii, and I love both their histories! Arguably, the T'lan Imass are the villain of quite a few stories and getting more of a glimpse of their long wars was fascinating. I neeeed to know who they are going to fight now! And what Tool is up to!

This book was heartbreaking, but goddamn, Erikson is F. U. N. N. Y.

And the prose? Is soooo good! Listen to this:
"The hand of vengeance stayed cold only so long. Any soul possessing a shred of humanity could not help but see the reality behind cruel deliverance, no matter how justified it might have at first seemed. Faces blank in death. Bodies twisted in postures no one unbroken could achieve. Destroyed lives. Vengeance yielded a mirror to every atrocity, where notions of right an wrong blurred and lost all relevance."

The last 20 percent of the book flew by. I couldn't put it down at all.

P. S. : Omg, I totally forgot the incredible Seguleh!! The punitive army of three! Them asking the Pannion Domin to please please go to war with them! Incredible, showstopping, never been seen before!!

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jos400's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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syinhui's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

When frozen between life and death, in the glacial in-between, what can exist of mortal feeling?
Not even an echo. Only memories of ice, of ice, and no more than that. Gods below. . . such sorrow. . .

Wow. That was one hell of a ride. This became increasingly unputdownable as the events unfold on all sides. I didn't know I had it in me to stay so focused on reading during my hours-long of commute. I'm the type who usually reads at home - where there are the least distractions but with Memories of Ice, I couldn't help myself. I had to keep reading. I had to know.

Everything was so intricately woven and multi-layered.
IT. IS. INSANE. I have no other words.

I don't think there was even a dull moment in this book.
Unlike the first two installments - GoTM, I admit was difficult - slogged my way through the first half. Some parts in DHG as well, particularly, Felisin's storyline which was my least favorite. But nope. Not here. Not with all the actions and revelations.

Not with the Bridgeburners being a dark-humored, miserable, suicidal bunch.

"Will this take long?" Lady Envy asked, her voice somehow cutting through the tumult to echo in Picker's ears as she pushed into the press.
"No", she grated, as two more Bridgeburners crumpled, "it won't..."

Not with Quick Ben scheming, Captain Paran being dragged along and manhandled at times, by the wizard. Loving the dynamic between these two.

"No one knows all that! No-one! You - you - how can you - aagh! The web!
The web of your infernal brain!"

Not with Kruppe and his insufferable dialogues or monologues. Perfectly understandable why Brood lost his cool.

"Kruppe defies all threats! Kruppe sneers at whatever demonstration bristling warlord would
attempt - "

Not with Lady Envy being her gorgeous and wonderful self, as always.

"I have an idea, a wonderful idea - as are all my ideas, of course."

Not with Rake being his enigmatic self, a solid presence that undoubtedly evokes both fear and wonder. And in his absence, left everyone deeply disturbed, panic got them playing the "Where is Anomander Rake?" game. Sure likes picking his timing and entrances. Always a little bit late to the party.

"Where is Anomander Rake? This mob could charge at any moment."
*
"You still do not grasp the gravity of this! Fool! Ox! Where is Anomander Rake?
Tell me! I must speak with him -"
*
"- oh where is Anomander Rake? They call for him, they call and call!"

Not with Bauchelain and Korbal Broach being this wandering, creepy necromancer duo.
Oh, poor Mancy.

"I confess... to a certain... confusion. Do we possess some chronic flaw, Emancipor?"

Not with Toc and Itkovian's extraordinary storylines. Grief and pain-filled as they were.

Her embrace broke bones. The more he screamed with the pain, the tighter she held him.
He had learned to suffer in silence.

"He is the Shield Anvil. Fener knows grief, so much grief that it is beyond his capacity to withstand it. And so he chooses a human heart. Armoured. A mortal soul, to assume the sorrow of the world. The Shield Anvil."

Though sprinkled throughout different chapters and POVs, I'm absolutely delighted with how humor was amped up by several degrees. Dry and dark as they may be. I had a few good chuckles and cackles. Now, I can truly say that I enjoyed this book way more than its predecessor.
Despite the deaths, oh so many deaths.

While DHG had me reeling as if I'd been gutted or punched in the stomach, Memories of Ice... well, drained me. It was exhausting, in its scope and complexity but also satisfying in the way it resolved conflicts and ultimately, how it subverted expectations. The bittersweet resolution to some of the characters made me so damn emotional. The epilogue neatly tied back to the events in DHG, the resurrected Imperial Historian, Duiker, recounting his heartbreaking journey with Coltaine and the Chain of Dogs.

So far, the time invested in the world of MBotF has proven to be worthwhile. The hundreds of thousand years of history, the journey of every character, their experiences, motivations, growth, and inner struggles stirred up a lot of emotions in me.
At this point, I am fully prepared and eager to embrace whatever the rest of this epic tale has to offer.

Like these memories of ice, raining, raining down upon us.

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bcrowes11's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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xandrade's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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ozreus's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Such a loss losing the majority of the Bridgeburners, Whiskeyjack and Itkovian! I can't believe that they're gone but they went in such glory! Not with a whimper but a roar!

It was such a good book! It dragged a bit after the initial battle at Capustan but quickly picked up again, can't wait to see where all these different threads are heading!

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